Government announces funding boost for North East police to help keep region safe
by Owen Younger · ChronicleLiveThe Government has announced a funding boost for North East police, in order to help keep the region safe.
The extra money has been made available to help tackle anti-social behaviour and restore neighbourhood policing.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced that next year, forces in the North East will see a funding increase of at least five per cent to help them tackle the priorities that matter in their areas, as part of the government's Plan for Change.
This means £418 million for Northumbria Police, which is a cash increase of 6.2%, and £177 million for Durham Constabulary, which is a cash increase of 5.8%.
The Government is adding an additional billion pounds to boost the entire system across the country, taking the total allocation up to £19.5 billion for England and Wales.
The majority of this funding, up to £17.4 billion and an increase of up to £987 million, will be given to Police and Crime Commissioners and Mayors. This gives them the autonomy to tackle crime in their communities, as they look to bring down anti-social behaviour and apprehend persistent criminals.
This money will include:
- £339 million more for the police core grant, to help forces with general running costs, and it can also be used to tackle local priorities.
- An extra £230 million in funding to cover the costs arising from changes to National Insurance Contributions, which will help police balance their budgets.
- New funding of £100 million to kickstart the recruitment of 13,000 additional officers, community support officers and special constables.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: "Today’s settlement provides a substantial increase in funding for policing to help deliver on this Government’s Safer Streets mission, fundamental to our Plan for Change. This vital funding boost will enable forces to kickstart the recruitment of neighbourhood police officers and crack down on the crimes blighting our high streets and town centres.
"We recognise the financial and operational challenges that police forces across the country have faced in recent years, and that is why we are providing a significant and much-needed increase in funding to help forces protect the public and keep our streets safe.
"We will also work closely with forces at a national and regional level to maximise efficiency and innovation, so that every penny they receive goes as far as possible and provides real value for the public."
Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson added: "We are determined to deliver for the people up and down this country and make good on our promise to reform policing, halve knife crime and tackle anti-social behaviour head on.
"This settlement aims to do just that, providing a significant and substantial increase in funding that will allow polices forces to get a grip on the criminality and make our streets and communities safer."
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